Ashley Renee Seward is a composer living and working in so-called Toronto, Canada. She is currently studying at the University of Toronto and has recently finished a Master of Music in Composition at the University of British Columbia, where she studied with Dorothy Chang, Jocelyn Morlock, and others. In her music, Ashley enjoys elucidating her perspective as a queer and neurodivergent individual, exploring her ideas through quirky forms and phrases as well as juxtaposition of lush triadic harmony and dimly-lit post-tonality. She enjoys writing for all instruments and ensembles, with a particular interest in small chamber ensembles and opera.
Ashley has written music for the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Standing Wave Ensemble, Allegra Chamber Orchestra, and the Kensington Sinfonia, among others. In 2021, Ashley’s work “trypanophobia” for viola sola was awarded a runner-up prize in that year’s SOCAN Young Composers Competition. Ashley’s piece “Storms Over Camp Creek” was recorded in 2023 by the Kensington Sinfonia for their album Forces of Nature. In 2023, Ashley was one of the first musical artists to be shortlisted for the Portfolio Prize.
When not composing, Ashley likes to play video games and plan out her Magic: The Gathering decks. Sometimes, if she’s feeling frisky, she will put on an obscure album and go for a walk. She has always wanted a cat (the photos here are of Juno, a wonderful fellow who unfortunately does not live with Ashley), so any commissioning payments will go towards getting a cat and housing and feeding a little guy.